Good evening everybody and welcome to Wednesday conversation we’ve come to the middle of the week once again and we are here by God’s grace and we are going to spend some time uh catching up with each other and also not only that but uh spend some time praying this is a time
Of prayer and also a little study conversation as we continue our conversation from last week happy to have each and every one of you who are here and happy to be here with ELD Lauren Newman this evening how you doing fine I’m doing fine good good good good
How’s your week been so far I’ve had a good week I’ve had lots of laughter Lots for fun got to see my grandchildren so I had good week great great great that laughter uh is good medicine for us and we’ve got enough to to have to deal with
Uh in life but uh to be able to find something to smile about I once saw a uh a movie that was depicting the life of Jesus and uh there was a particular scene with Jesus and his disciples and um it was for the first time that I
Really I guess contemplated that uh the man Jesus our lord and savior Emmanuel that he laughed that he smiled and at first what I saw it was like Blasphemous I said blasphemy blasphemy that’s not how Jesus acted but but when we really think about it uh if he was really with
Us as one of us yes surely I’m quite sure he F something to smile about something to laugh about I think we’ve given him enough to laugh things to laugh about yes as we go through through our life well um for the season how’s the season going for you this this
Holiday time going to do anything special um well we’re having a dinner we actually were going to Mexico um since I fell and broke my arm I won’t be going but the rest of my children are going and that’s going to be a wonderful time it’s the first time
We ever planned a trip away and that’s special and um Christmas is a special time for me reminds me of seeing people in my family like my great grandmother and my grandmother and so it just brings back memories Christmas was a happy time in our family A Time To Remember
Christ’s birth yes a lot of time talking about that but also to remember the blessings that God had given us all throughout the year absolutely I love Christmas amen very good well likewise I’m with you uh in that in that sentiment but we want to also remember
Um that there are many who are experiencing some difficult times during the the holiday season and uh some Behavior scientists say that this is a as often as a a very uh heavy uh difficult time for many people because of some of the expectations and things that we put on ourselves but dealing
With that whole issue of family being together and then not being together and when we think about what we just came through uh beginning in 2020 with covid we weren’t able to get together and then when we were able to get together we were afraid to be together yeah because
We you know we didn’t want to get sick and the whole idea of a super spreader breaking out so it’s been been a been a diff difficult season and uh we want to remember those who in particular um in particular they sh we want to see um those who are U grieving
Um those who are remembering loss over the years we just want to make sure that we keep them in prayer so we’re going to spend spend some time in prayer and when we get to it um I’m going to ask if you wouldn’t mind praying for us but we’ve
Got a few things in the chat um uh brother Ernest talked about watching that that series called Chosen and I agree with you that’s a that’s a beautiful uh series and um uh you know you watch that but also read the Bible but then Dr shakes please pray for
Residents of our community uh she talked about the Caroling experience this past Sabbath uh they want to come and meet their neighbor family and and get more more into the word of God and so that that touch of the family last week has uh uh garnered uh interest among those
Who were touched and they heard the Carol sing We believe the angel sang with them and have warmed hearts and so we want to remember them as well anyone who has a um prayer request this evening if there’s something on your heart that you want uh on the new pray for this
Evening uh we place that in the chat for us and and I just ask for continued prayers for my family uh especially in this time and I talked with my my niece uh last night my brother’s uh eldest child and um just want to continue to keep keep them in prayer anything that
Um you want us to pray for Elder Newman I know your family’s be will be traveling and all of that and I how are you healing are you healing okay oh yes I’m learning to walk and I walk is stronger the PT says so yes I am healing
And I want to I have a dear friend we grew up together and she had open heart surgery and now she’s having some fluid build up in her lungs so I want to pray for her and um the Lord will heal her but also give her strength to go through
This difficult time yes day yesterday well I still believe that prayer changes things because when we connect with God God is sitting at the ready to uh hear our prayers it’s not that we pray to him to make him aware of what’s going on in our lives he’s always uh watching and he
Always knows but it is that that act of faith that we are exercising uh in him saying that Lord we know you here we know you know and so we are simply expressing articulating our faith in you to to do what only you can do if you have unspoken request you can simply
Signal those right where you are online you can raise your hand right where you are you can simply say Lord hear my heart where you are and uh we know that heaven will hear your requests so ELD if you don’t mind if you would take us into
The throne room God gives us open Sesame and just lift up your heart and voice um as we have Bill Ellis I have Co oh my and need prayer for my healing so we want to remember um him as well all right Elder gracious Father in Heaven
What a joy it is in our hearts as we come to the end of our day we can spend it with you we thank you Father for this holiday season yes all because it reminds us of the very precious gift you gave to us your son reminds us of a time
That we really need to remember throughout the year you have blessed us throughout the year you have been so faithful in answering our prayer so Lord we know we don’t deserve to stand in your throne but we come boldly to you because you have given us Grace so many
Times yes you have mercy on our souls so Lord hear the prayers of Bill Ellis he has Co and that causes so much dist stress yes in our hearts in our bodies but your healing hand is right there yes love of him is so great so we pray you will
Bless him we pray for all those who are traveling including my family go visit others at this Christmas season please Lord give them traveling mercies let your Mighty angels from Heaven excel in strength and keep your Commandments yes about the plane in the plane and Lord
Let your spirit rest within the souls we thank you Lord for this evening we thank you that we’re going to talk again about your beautiful gift the gift of Jesus Christ yourself and we thank you Lord that you have given us such a strong and mighty leader as the pastor be with him
Lord as he talks guide all that he says let this moment be so special with us sitting with you in Jesus name amen amen amen thank you y so much uh I know that uh our heavenly father enjoyed hearing from his daughter this evening as you spoke with him from your
Heart and uh interceded in prayer on our behalf thank you so much much for that this evening and that’s that is perhaps the most important thing that we’ve done this evening is that we have talked with the Lord spend time with God In Prayer that’s not a passing fleeting uh uh
Exercise or element of our in our Wednesday night but it is right at the core and the root of all that we are we live we move we breathe we stand up and uh we are covered in prayer so I want to want to uh pick back up with our
Discussion from last week when we talked about uh Christmas facts Christmas facts and um I talked about that old draget uh series uh La last week all about uh Joe Friday saying I want the facts ma’am just the facts we have been looking at some facts and I want to uh continue and
And just kind of move uh through some of the things we talked about last week Galatians 4:4 but when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law meaning he was born under uh the conditions that the world finds itself
Since the Rebellion that took place in Eden but God sent forth his son born of a woman that reminds us that God is with us but then as we talked about it last week he is not only with us but he is one of us so we I’m just going to run
Down these these few and then we’re going to pick up the ones we have for this week according to scripture and extra biblical sources Jesus was born and is a verifiable historical figure in other words Elder to everybody Jesus is real okay he actually lived and we have
Historical uh um um footing and Foundation that Jesus is real we do not know exactly when he was born there is historical evidence to help us he was approximately born somewhere maybe 3 four BCE Before Common Era uh but uh the Bible is silent that God did not give us
That date and perhaps uh that was divine wisdom uh because we talked last week about how often times we take things and there’s idolatry that takes place and we will probably focus more on the day this the uh the which we are already running in danger of focusing on the season
Focusing on the day instead of focusing on um the God man Emanuel Jesus the Christ then we talked about we have no mandate to celebrate Jesus’s birth the Bible doesn’t say celebrate uh there is one thing that the Bible does tell us to to do to remember and what’s that Elder
Remember Jesus Christ was born absolutely remember he was born and even all the way back to H siia that there’s only one Commandment that still has that word remember and um that’s to remember the Sabbath day holy yes indeed so we we we have some things that he has kind of even
Even in communion uh we are given counsel the Lord Lord supper uh where where um Jesus said to the disciples as often as you do this you would do it in remembrance of me and so we thank God for his uh blessings but the the Christmas the the well not Christmas so
Much but the birth of Christ was not one of those mandates but I haven’t come across it Elder I haven’t come across we have no prohibition there are there are no Thou shalt Nots right about celebrating acknowledging a rejoicing being happy about the fact that Jesus was born and
That he is a part of human history as well as Cosmic history he he he he’s real uh and and a part of our our uh reality okay so we don’t have a Prohibition and we don’t have a mandate too so it’s kind of left up to us to U
Make a decision as to whether or not we will celebrate it and if I asked you um Newman what what what is it that that says to you this is something I want to celebrate this this holiday season what what would you say this is this is why I want to
Celebrate um it’s interesting because there’s so much talk about the negative things that are in Christmas the fact that we spend so much money on getting gifts and that we um do things for ourselves we don’t think of others however what Christmas does do just the
Word itself that it has Christ name in it reminds us that there was a Jesus Christ reminds us that a birth occurred remind us that Our Redeemer was born so even though there are all these the distractions in the midst of all of that there is a time to remember Jesus
Christ the other thing I think that it does it you know when I was a kid you would go to the store my parents would give my brother and I a little bit of money and we would go we’d have a list of all these people and um when I was a
Kid it was called the five in tensent store and we just love going there and we get my grandmother something and my grandfather father something we spend all that time and when we left our parents would tell us to put the money in the little Salvation Army they’d be out there ringing the
Bell so through the years I used to teach my kids give to the Salvation Army and Through the Years every Christmas the church would empty and we would go to Mitch Snider’s shelter and we would have a great celebration of Christmas we would do things like the
Choir would come and sing would fix the dinner and give them Gifts of socks or whatever and then everybody would go home and we would have our own Christmas dinner so in the midst of all the other things that could be distraction there they they can’t help it they have to
Think about Jesus Christ and I like that amen beautiful beautiful um we we are are are just grateful for that that uh I thank you for sharing that story we’re just grateful for the reality that Jesus Christ is um a reality uh in the early Christian early centuries Christians
Were much more likely to celebrate the Day of a person’s death than the person’s birth day so historically uh this whole idea about celebrating uh a birth uh was not really the thing that people lean toward they lean towards the day that they died and they memorialized
That but but uh what we’re dealing with is that reality in fact Grace hangs on the truth the reality that Jesus Christ was born and so uh we see this like shift uh the shift comes when Christianity became the religion of the Empire and remember those uh four
Statues that Daniel uh saw or the uh the statue that he saw with the four different medals the head of gold the arms of silver chest of silver the belly of brass and the legs of iron and we know from history those were the kingdoms of
Babylon uh the um the mes and the Persians and the Greeks and then finally that that iron Kingdom the kingdom of Rome and it was during Rome’s rule uh especially under um the emperor Constantine where the transition from the Republic to the to the uh Empire or Emperors um when Constantine uh Embraces
Christianity when Christianity becomes a religion of the Empire the church either had to suppress the Pagan festivals or transform them we kind of this I think this is about where we ended last week that either the church had to put them down did deny them or find a way to
Transfer them in other words clean them up how could we clean up some of these festivals and sure enough the winter sols seemed an appropriate time to celebrate Christ’s birth thus the Festival of the sun Su n became a festival of the s n who was not just the
Light of the light uh um uh hanging in the in in the atmosphere or in in in the costume most he is indeed the light of the world and so we see that transition some believe that that’s that wasn’t um uh in harmony with God’s Will and that
Uh somehow um these these um uh festivals or or ways still remain Pagan even though there may have been some Christian emphasis um that has taken place and I think it was uh someone I think may have been Sheldon last week who actually talked about how many of our hymns were
Um uh written words that were written to tunes that were sung in other places in other settings and so we’ve kind of seen that that take place and in fact Judaism had a transformation from um the old Covenant and the old ways to Christ Christianity and so transformation has
Been a part of our our experience uh and this was an attempt um at bringing about a transformation if I had to ask you uh Elder Newman if that transformation uh still took is still in place if it does it still ring true would does everybody
Kind of work with or live according to that transformation what would be your response to that are we are we doing things things differently or does it seem like we’ve got some stuff that’s still hanging on I think we have some of it’s still hanging on and I think it’s still
Affects us I do think that um just as you said here the light of the world is bringing as bringing the light to the world also means bringing Christ to the world and I still say that we have an opportunity every Christmas time to talk about Jesus Christ are we affected by
All the other things yes but just as you mentioned about Sheldon talking about the songs we sing they can’t get away from it he still bring it forth so yes I think we’re still in transformation sometimes it seems like we’re losing but every year we talk about Jesus Christ every year absolutely
And we get a new opportunity to reinforce and to combat uh some of the falsehoods and the fairy tales and the and the the fantasy that that is that is a part of that uh Christmas um uh uh uh theme and really focus in on what the
True story is and that is that God has done everything necessary yes save us from our C and I and I praise God for that so we then move move uh into some of the things that we had not talked about and so here’s here is a historical um Anchor
Point the Christmas holiday is a Christian phenomenon it is it is um it has relevance when we talk about the spiritual piece it has relevance the um early term was Christ mass that was used in the Roman Church um but it it it it was to signal on that worship and and
The observance and the acknowledging that Christ was born it’s a Christian phenomenon the Jewish Community celebrates Hanukkah which has already begun and during the same time as it coincides with the dates of the Jewish Independence following their conquest of the sald aggression and we know that as
The maab and Revolt and that’s that’s some good reading and good history to know that there was a time when um the um the salusins were uh oppressing aggressively and there was this attempt to wipe out Christianity to destroy uh the temple and to destroy the practices
Of Judaism and and there was the abomination of of the sacrifices that were on the very altars that were dedicated to God that broke the broke the heart and the spirit of of God’s people but they fought back and um the maban Revolt is that uh flash point
Where this um the maban family LED in this um series of of fighting back physically uh to and then uh eventually there was help that came from Rome uh which then later turned on them uh as well but but it is it is Christmas so we
We I think this is part of the reason why we have that discussion now about it not being uh Christmas but happy holidays so so how how would um other communities other Faith communities be able to celebrate or to participate in this in this season if there is this uh
CR this Christian stamp on it and uh be that as it may uh I don’t know if you agree with me but it’s it’s it’s the birth of Christ is Christian I don’t know I don’t know any other way to put it no I think that’s good yeah the birth of Christ is
Christian because we’re talking about uh the the entrance into the world of our savior um through that U that whole idea of the Incarnation okay and and uh uh if if someone walked up to you uh uh sister Newman and I would have trouble with it
Too but if someone walked up to you and said uh I’m trying to understand what is this thing called Incarnation what is that all about how would you how would you attempt to kind of help him out the man on the street the woman on the street um well especially when you say
The man or the woman on the street there’s not a whole lot of time you have to try to condense it yes simple words so they would understand so I would tell them you know Jesus Christ Our Savior was B and not sure exactly when but this
Time of year gives us a chance to celebrate his birth not necessarily the time of his birth but the fact that he was born and his birth was special because it wasn’t a normal birth God blessed Mary and she had a baby and I think I would leave it like that yeah
And if I had more time I would say more but if you’ve ever been I grew up in New York if you ever been in New York people walk up and down the street saying all kinds of things and they have coats on and they open the codat and they say I
Have some watches in here if you want to buy and they’re always looking for the cop so they only have a few minutes and but they sell those watches I would try to act like I only have a few minutes but I want sell this information ah I
Like that I like that and I agree with you um the reality is that we’re trying to share with people that God himself became a baby in the womb of a virgin I’m trying to remember who it was I was I was talking with last week uh
They were say you know I’m trying to figure out how does this work how how how does God now become what what took place how we understand uh uh sperm and ovam and zygote and and fetus and all of that we we we understand that biology but now we’re talking about
God inserting himself into the family the human race okay how does how does that happen how does he do it and what what is U what is uh clear to me is that uh what happens is we we don’t really have the that that that great uh U uh explanation
This as you said look it happened here’s what it was I don’t have a whole lot of time look but I got something I want you to have and I I I I love it I love it um but it happened it and maybe that’ll be
One of those things that we’ll talk to God about when we get now how did you do that how did you pull that off that and so we call it we call it Incarnation yes that’s well how did it happen ah it was Incarnation that’s that’s how it
Happened and then I wanted to say don’t you think at some point we have to introduce faith the Bible reminds us say blessed are those that believe and yet have not seen so there are some things as they do this walk with Christ that they have not
Seen but they believe and I think that what we’re talking about is one of those times that is your faith right you don’t have proof but when we get to heaven we can ask about it but and we don’t understand it because it’s greater than
We could think but we have faith so I guess I’m wondering if I had more time I might talk a little bit about faith um yeah absolutely because basically most of the philosophies that we that we uh Embrace there’s a little bit of faith that has to go into that
Anyway that the people who are talking about Evolution have to do that by faith because they can’t prove that yes okay I can’t prove God I won’t try to prove God there comes that that moment of faith I was looking in the chat and Ernest where oh he says he says happy Chris
Quanza hanus okay I I would love to hear him pronounce that and that way he doesn’t uh um offend anyone uh but but brings everybody into uh the uh the package and then he says he’s God he’s God and that’s that’s that’s a good place to to leave with
With no matter what happened even with this Incarnation he still was verily God as well as man okay so our next one is this so here here’s what we’re dealing with we dealing with symbols symbols okay and what are symbols what our symbols you have an answer for
That um I would say that that’s a something that you can see you can touch that represents something else that maybe you can’t touch okay so um a symbol for the sororities the black sororities is an example of that you can actually draw it and say this is the
Greek lettering for Delta Sigma Theta or alpha alpha go ahead now about to drop the Divine line oners I hear it I hear it yeah absolutely absolutely in fact um the American flag yes is a symbol uh when we look at um our football teams yes we have symbols okay
Cowboys okay here we go all right here we go when it was gonna come out but there it is there it is there it is well hey no no shade on the Beautiful Sunday God bless him yes indeed uh but there are symbols uh even with with our teams and
And uh even with um uh other things our government and and and and countries around the world we have symbols symbol a symbol is a thing that represents or stands for something else when we talk about Christianity in the early uh Church there was a symbol and was called the
Eus it was the fish that um was um a symbol for those when they saw they they they were members of the way that the early church was called the early Christian Church um there was symbols in Judaism the Star of David was a symbol it represents uh something else but symbols
Do not Define themselves okay symbols do not Define themselves symbols receive or have their definition significance or meaning by the person community or culture that establishes or maintains it in other words symbols have life breathed into them by the ones who hold that symbol to stand for something
Or something else okay uh that that would that cause it to be a represent representation of something the cross the cross um for some may have been a symbol or a a reminder of torture of death of uh it was a criminals um um uh lot uh in the early
Days like The Hangman’s news or the the the um the uh um the electric chair those things were were uh execution symbols or tubes but the Christian church later Embraces the cross as a reminder and as a as a sterling symbol of the Christian Life the Christian church and the Christian way
Thus symbols May evolve they may change or be discontinued so take the not the Cowboys but let’s talk about the commanders the commanders had a symbol that created some discussion as long as well as other teams that had symbols or mascots or or or logos that depicted uh people from um the Native
American uh uh group or culture and with sensitivity to that uh those symbols were were changed okay uh even the terminology uh was changed in in re in response to that some may call it the cancel culture but but in many times there was something that really probably
Needed to be uh dealt with we as a people uh of of African descent in this nation have had to deal with those symbols the the jockey on the lawns okay uh some of the uh symbols that used to be on canned goods and whatnot uh they got rid of Aunt
Jamama uh I remember when I was uh working at a grocery store down in Texas this is how I got made my money for tuition where I I I came across a can of old negro head and and all I read was old negro head I don’t even know what
Was in the can but the just the fact that it was old negro head I said what um and then that disappear from so those symbols change or they may evolve or they may be discontinued that’s what was going on with this attempt to transform the um symbols or some of the
Symbols that may have been present in the Pagan festivals to give them an evolution of change or to discontinue them as there was a transformation to cause the heart and the mind to look at those things which uh would cause us to look to Christ with that the Christmas tree okay
Now I I and I shared it at church before there was a time when we couldn’t have the Christmas tree in our home that’s what we were told uh and so we we went through a whole process of all kinds of things no tree and then just
The manger or some candles and a whole lot of thing uh things uh but the Christmas tree which is which is uh typically the Evergreen fur tree okay uh historians tell us that it has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals both Pagan and Christian okay there are Harvest
Festivals even in uh Judaism and and within uh that which um pertains to God pagans use branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter suus the Romans use fur trees to decorate their temples at the festival of saturnalia Christians use it as a sign of
Everlasting life with with God and so the suggestion here is and you can embrace it or not is that for each one of these groups this same um uh evergreen tree so the evergreen tree is not a Christmas tree okay it is a evergreen tree uh it is called Evergreen
Because it it lives throughout all of the seasons its branches are always green uh there is always life in that tree um but because of what it is it then begin to take on some symbolic significance for different groups everyone didn’t see it uh or use it in
The same way uh there may been some crossover in it but that Evergreen growing in the in the forest is not a Christmas tree or anything else it is an evergreen fur tree and Spruce and they’ve got others other variations but that’s what it
Is now I I’ll be honest that we we when we see an evergreen uh especially kids ooo there’s a beautiful Christmas tree okay but that’s not what it is it it is it is um a symbol and uh and as Ern has put in the chat it’s it
Is symbolic of the Tree of Life okay because that that could be a fitting uh uh representation this this tree that that seems to uh live for throughout all the seasons representing the Eternal uh life that uh that God is he is life and then through him he sustains life and
Gives life uh eternally so um that’s where uh we we can choose to agree or disagree but at least share at least put it on the table um because simply because those who maybe differ from our perspective say something is this is a symbol of that does not
Make that so um however there are some things that we would never use some symbols we would never use because the association is so ingrained and deeply connected that we wouldn’t want to confuse people about what we are doing okay so I want to take the next one it
Is not the policy and let’s make this clear it is not the policy of the Adventist Church not to celebrate Christmas or any other traditional Church holidays have you heard that before Elder Newman no I hadn’t heard that before not the policy of the church not
To in other words the church does not say don’t do it let me let that just rest out there in the internet atmosphere for a moment moment we do not have a policy or position uh or stand against it it is a matter of personal choice and conscience for each member
And church you are not right or wrong should you uh participate in this celebration I’ve been in churches that have done both some have said no some have said yes okay and it’s it’s all right okay I’m not I’m not mad at you uh you don’t
Want little eggnog I mean good good know it’s all right you don’t want to treat okay that’s all right um but at the same time we should not condemn those who in good conscious can celebrate the holiday and do it in a way that would uh honor God
Many of our institutions and I’m talking about churches our schools our hospitals um our conference offices many of our institutions use decorations and observe the Easter and Christmas holidays in a way that seems appropriate and supports our beliefs and Mission okay so Elder we want to do
Everything that supports us as a church to carry the good news of the Gospel you’ve already shared how you would do that and how you are doing it and how we as a church is there anything else we could do that you could think of during this holiday season that would help us
Get that story out a little more I thought their idea that they used last week at Sabbath going out caroling was a beautiful way of getting the story out I think um the songs alone tell the story the fact that it took the time to
Go out in the cold touches the hearts of the people when I was a child people did that every Christmas and I think that’s the way of getting the message out and I think that that’s what the point that the church is making if you are going to
Observe Christmas or Easter use that time to spread the word that Jesus Christ was born and he lives and he sacrificed his life that we too now may have an opportunity to live with him I think there’s so many beautiful ways we could share it even focusing more on
Those that are without so many children that live right now in shelters could benefit a little card a little toy a group of people singing and playing with them on Christmas Day I mean that would just warm their hearts there’s some children whose parents are in prison or
Some children whose parents have died so I think I think what this says is use this holiday so that you can share the message and use the lights that the Christmas tree has to warm our hearts that we can go out and Sh shed light upon those people who right now are
Sitting in darkness absolutely beautifully said beautifully said appreciate that um it is um it is an opportunity yes that we ought not in my in my opinion we ought not let go by and and even if you don’t celebrate it there’s still the opportunity to share the good news of
The Gospel that Jesus Christ was born so from the writers this is review in Herold December 9 1884 and this this is where those quotes that are in the Adventist home and some of the other uh uh compilations of of her writings she says Christmas is coming may you all have
Wisdom may you all have wisdom to make it a precious season now where are we going to get that wisdom from uh where we gonna get that wisdom I think we’re gonna get it from Reading God’s word yeah I think you’re going to get it from some of the beautiful
Sermons that we have and now the one beautiful thing about the internet is that we can watch old sermons watch new sermons sermons in other countries I think that’s where we get the word from we can’t get it just from within ourselves we have to reach out and get more
Information absolutely I think God will give us if we’re Serenity he will give us um new new ways um uh I guess impactful ways to touch the lives of people with the good news let the older church members unite heart and soul with their children in this innocent amusement and Recreation or
Recreation in devising ways and means to show True respect to Jesus by bringing to him gifts and offerings so she gives a uh a way that we can do that by bringing a special gift to Jesus Christ kind of reminds us of that that story of
The uh I don’t say it this way anymore the three wise men because we don’t know how many were there but we do know it’s the it’s it was the visit of the Magi who came and we know there were at least three gifts there was the gold uh
There was the Frankin frankincense and what was that last one um M there you go gold frankincense and myrr that were given and each one had its symbolic uh significance as they were coming to to worship and to recognize the newborn king yes newborn king of Israel that was
They we have seen his star where is he um and the thing that uh really touches my heart is that when Herod was approached he knew where to turn yes you know he just did scratch his head I don’t know I don’t he knew where to turn and when they turned to the
Scriptures to the Scrolls to the prophecies they were able to speak correctly the same things that these Magi uh were were were aware of they knew and that’s why Bethlehem was targeted and and unfortunately that that time of that evil um uh it’s it’s it’s amazing what
Was done to them during The Exodus experience one of their own turned around and did to them when Moses was in danger uh there was an edict a decree from Pharaoh kill all of them boy all the baby boys from Two and under and now
Uh in this this this uh time when the prophecy seems to be uh being fulfilled what was used against them they use as a tool against their own children it’s it’s sin is is something else it’s um it’s mindblowing it’s actually mindblowing she has one more and I want
To share before we end tonight um uh in terms of uh what we what we can do or what was happening in the church she said that letters of inquiry have come to us asking shall we have a Christmas tree will it not be like the world she
Says we answer you can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so or you can make it as unlike the world as possible so there again uh uh uh Elder Newman we’ve got power to be able to put the right significance and put
The right story on it we can make it as unlike the world as possible there is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant Evergreen and placing it in our churches but the sin lies where can you read the rest of that for me lies in the motive which prompts
To prompts to action action and I don’t have my glasses on okay yeah I see they up there on the top of your head oh thank you yes which made of the gifts placed upon the tree yes yes yes yes yes um I want to ask you one question yes do
You think that this is a a a grand time to talk about Jesus because right now everyone is lit up because of Christmas everyone is aroused before Christmas we have the tension of the world right now but we also have this bit of information that Jesus is
Coming and his coming is growing closer so we have less time than we had 10 years ago 100 years ago because his arrival is close don’t you think that we should do what she’s talking about use this time this Christmas time not make it like the world but make it a time
That we tell everyone that’s awakened right now about Christ coming Abol think it’s an opportune time to use the tree to our benefit use the Christmas time to our benefit because so many people have been awakened yes people pray day and night for relief relief from illness relief from
Prison from loneliness abuse so many things yes and us coming with this gentle touch of Christ and his message would relieve them of their crying to Christ help me because he were telling him he’s there he’s right here for you he was born for you you I just think we
Could use this time instead of looking at the bad cre just take that away and start over again with the beauty of Christmas because Christ was born don’t know the exact date but we do know and we believe that he was born absolutely believe he is coming again but I just
Wondered don’t you think this is a prime time to tell people Elder I don’t know here’s my fear I don’t want to be in a place where this may have been the opportunity for us to share the good news uh because they were ready they were primed um they their their sensitivity was
Open um because they’re hearing all kinds of stories yeah but there’s a power that comes through the Holy Spirit when we tell the story of Christ and and there are Seasons when people are are more open than others I don’t want to have to stand before God and answer why
Didn’t I yes tell the story when there was this great opportunity to share with men women boys and girls who may not be open at any other time did I did I allow this distraction yes keep me from telling the story so I don’t care what you do with
The other part of but we cannot we absolutely cannot afford to miss out on this opportunity to tell the good news that Jesus Christ was born yes he lived yes he died he rose again he went home yeah he’s interceding on our behalf and not only
Did he come he’s coming back again yes he’s coming back and and and and and and just there’s just so much that that God would have us to do and to share and and I I don’t want to be guilty of of not uh taking advantage of this this marvelous
Opportunity that God has given us yeah I agree exactly with you this is it uh don’t don’t let it don’t let it pass you by let’s Reach Out And Touch those who are um uh in the world and around us especially our community our our community ought to be able to feel drawn
Closer to US during this time uh and that uh you know we would be at a place where um uh even we are more accessible to them during this time well listen I I uh that’s the end of my of my FS as they are tonight and the these two weeks
We’ll be here on next Wednesday evening before our holiday uh break but we want you to be reminded that this is it this is it this is it the gospel train rolls in to the brinklow station on this sabbath morning at 11:30 a.m. is our special um uh
Present presentation not only for our young people but but the young at heart of all ages so we’re inviting you to bring your children our families will have VIP seating in the front of the church and please bring your your your friends and and other children that uh
May be in your neighborhood we want everybody to come not just for brinko but it’s for our community to come and share as well it’s a beautiful day because in that evening we have our bike giveaway uh that will take place I think it’s right around 5 5:30 that evening
And we are um looking to give away brand new bikes these are not bikes that we found uh just laying up against the wall somewhere these are brand new bicycles and uh we are asking that you will come and spend some time there’ll be uh a
Little bit of Fellowship but we want to bless the hearts of children uh as they come we ask that you continue to support it you can support it with your Financial gifts as well uh we’re going to go get them we get the trucks are getting ready to get loaded up to bring
The Vikes to the church to be given away on this coming weekend I want to also let you know that this even that that same evening and that’s at six o’clock pm. I’m getting ready to do uh like you uh sister Newman and pull my glasses
Right six o’clock pm. there is a bowling night for our sponsored by the brinko women’s ministry uh the Bolero uh bowling alley in Colombia uh you can um make your way there there’s an entry fee and you can contact women’s ministry if you need more information uh we continuing uh our uh
Holiday celebration we’ll have our our Christmas uh Sabbath service on the 23rd um but then on the 30th which will be the last Sabbath of 2023 we’re going to celebrate communion the Lord’s Supper uh we’re going to break bread together and we are going to partake of the cup and that’ll take
Place in our divine service we pray that God will bless you and I’m asking you even now that as we prepare to approach this table that you enter into this um celebration of these beautiful emblems with sober hearts and sober minds and that if you have ought with anyone that
That uh may have transpired throughout this week that you will take the time now to get it right uh with that individual and not to uh take um take part in this this beautiful holy uh Sacrament with with uh with um that uh division or that Schism or that painful
Uh reminder of sin uh in your life ask for forgiveness make it right and come before that table uh covered by under the blood of Jesus Christ and that’ll bring 2024 to an end and we look forward 2023 I’m sorry 2023 to an end and we’ll
Look forward to 2024 I don’t want the years to pass by any quicker than they need to because they seem to be slipping by me quicker now than they used to uh when I was 30 it took a long time to become 40 but after that they’ve been
Cliffing by W with with fantastic speed so thank you again Elder Newman for for being here with me this evening and going through and sharing uh uh your Insight and and what God has uh given you thank everybody who uh was online with us this evening even
Uh Sheldon who was backstage doing dual Duty um but we just thank you for being here and we look forward to seeing you on Sabbath there he is and we look forward to seeing you uh throughout the rest of this holiday season Elder Newman would you mind just praying us out yes
Gracious Father in heaven we thank you so much for this evening time with you we thank you Lord for reminding us of the importance of letting people know about Jesus Christ’s birth his life his death and his resurrection let people know that he is coming again oh father thank you for
Being with us tonight thank you that your spirit has dwelled within our hearts let us now go out and complete the work you have given us to do in Jesus name amen amen amen thank you so much God bless everybody uh be safe if you’re traveling and we look forward to
Seeing you by the grace of God on Sabbath and on next week good Night yeah
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